Dual sights for double-barrel shotgun



June 24, 1958 H. WILLIAMS DUAL SIGHTS FOR DOUBLE-BARREL SHOTGUN FiledSept. 14, 1955 IN V EN TOR. flaw e /9- h 277zams.

United States Patent DUAL SIGHTS FOR DOUBLE-BARREL SHOTGUN Harvey A.Williams, Davison, Mich.

Application September 14, 1955, Serial No. 534,274

2 Claims. (CI. 33-51) The present invention relates to dual sights fordoublebarrel shotguns.

Double-barrel shotguns are not ordinarily provided with conventionalsights but are normally aimed by sighting down a central rib positionedintermediate the two barrels. This method of sighting is satisfactorywhen using conventional shells loaded with shot, due 'to the scatteringeffect of the shot. However, slugs are used in shotguns for huntinglarger game and require more accurate sighting of each barrel sincethere is no scattering effect and slugs have a greater range than shot.Moreover, the two barrels of a double-barrel shotgun converge towardeach other so that neither is parallel to the central rib. To meet thisdifliculty, it has been proposed that each barrel of a double-barrelshotgun be fitted with a front and rear sight similar to the sightsemployed on rifle barrels; but this expedient is subject to thedisadvantage that in shooting both barrels in rapid succession it isnecessary to shift the eye a substantial distance from one of the rearsights to the other and then find the front sight after the shift ismade.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide an improvedand highly satisfactory dual sighting system for double-barrel shotgunsin which a single rear sight is used with two front sights, one for eachbarrel.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the barrels of a double-barrel shotgunequipped with applicants novel sights; v

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a view looking down on top of the barrels of a shotgun andshowing the converging axes of the two barrels in an exaggerated manner.

The conventional shotgun shown fragmentarily in Figure 1 has a pair ofbarrels 1 and 2 fixed together and provided with a central rib 3 lyingbetween and somewhat above the two barrels. As is customary, the axes ofthe barrels converge towards each other from their breeches towardstheir muzzles, this converging relationship being shown in anexaggerated manner in Figure 4 for purposes of illustration.

In accordance with the present invention, a conventional peep sight,indicated generally at 4, is mounted on the rib 3 near the breeches ofthe barrels. The particular form of sight illustrated comprises asupporting base 5 which is fastened by screws (not shown) to the rib 3and which has on its upper surface a slot 6 in which is seated the base7 of a peep sight having a circular central sighting opening 8. The base7 of the peep sight is secured in position by means of one or morescrews, and any suitable means such as a set screw lying beneath thebase 7 may be employed to effect vertical adjustment of the peep sight.

Secured by a pair of screws to the central rib 3 adjacent the muzzles ofthe barrels is a front sight supporting base 9 having a transversedovetail slot 10 in which are mounted a pair of front sight elements 11and 12, each having a sighting button 13. The front sights 11 and 12have separate base members 14 and 15 which fit the dovetail groove 10and are independently secured therein by means of a single clampingplate 16 which is held in position in the base 9 by means of a screw 17.The rearward edge of the clamping plate 16 bears against the forwardsloping edges of the base members 14 and 15 and holds them in fixedposition within the groove 10. This arrangement permits an independentadjustment of the lateral position of each of the front sights 11 and 12with reference to the axes of the barrels and a clamping of the frontsights in adjusted position.

The left-hand front sight 11 is so positioned with reference to thecenter of the opening 8 in the peep sight 4 that a line between thefront sight 11 and the center of the opening 8 is parallel to the axisof the right-hand barrel 2. Similarly, the right-hand front sight 12 isso positioned that a line through the center of the opening 8 and thefront sight 12 is parallel to the axis of the left-hand barrel 1.Consequently, the rear peep sight is used for aiming both barrels, butthe lefthand front sight is used for aiming the right-hand barrel andthe right-hand front sight for aiming the left-hand barrel.

The above statement with respect to the parallel relationship betweenthe lines of sight and the axes of the barrels is based on theassumption that the sights are not adjusted for any elevation. Actually,whether or not the sights are adjusted for elevation, the sighting linethrough the right-hand front sight 12 will remain parallel to a verticalplane through the axis of the lefthand barrel, and the left-handsighting line through the front sight 11 will remain parallel to thevertical plane of the right-hand barrel when the gun is in normalshooting position.

In firing both barrels of the gun in succession, it is not necessary toshift the position. of the sighting eye with reference to the gun or therear peep sight, and it has been found that no difficulty is encounteredin shifting the gun to aim successively over first one of the frontsights and then the other as the two barrels are fired. This shift insighting over the front sights from one. to the other soon becomeshabitual since it is customary to fire the two barrels in the samesuccession at all times. The use of the sight arrangement of the presentinvention has been found to increase accuracy to a significant degreewhen shooting slugs.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a double-barrel shotgun having a pair ofsubstantially parallel laterally spaced barrels which converge forwardlytoward each other, a rear sight positioned above and intermediate thebarrels, and a pair of front sights positioned above and between thebarrels and so spaced from each other that a line drawn through the rearsight and the left-hand front sight is parallel to a vertical planecontaining the axis of the right-hand barrel when the gun is in shootingposition and a line drawn through the same rear sight and the right-handfront sight is parallel to a vertical plane containing the axis of theleft-hand barrel when the gun is in shooting position.

2. A dual front sight for use on a side-by-side doublebarrel shotgunhaving a single rear sight positioned 3 above and intermediate thebarrels, said dual front sight including a mounting base adapted to bemounted on the gun above and between the barrels adjacent their muzzleends, and a pair of sights carried by said mounting base and laterallyspaced apart by an amount substantially equal to the amount that thebarrels of a sideby-side double-barrel shotgun converge toward eachother in a distance equal to the length of the barrels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS HarrisJune 16, 1908 Hunt Aug. 16, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Oct. 15, 1925

